Volume 1. Chapter 14. Talking

The Fujiwara family huddled together in the dimly lit room, their movements tense yet purposeful. Naoko leaned over her husband, her trembling hands clumsily tending to his wounds. Her face was frozen in a mask of focused terror, beads of sweat trailing down her brow. Ayana, the eldest daughter, worked with strained precision, wrapping bloodied bandages around Hiroto's head. Even Takatsu, pale and visibly shaken, began to steady himself—his breathing finally evening out.The oppressive silence of the room was broken by a faint, unnatural sound—the soft rustle of fabric. It felt out of place and eerily familiar, like a warning whispered too late. From the center of the room, where there had been nothing just moments ago, a dark mist began to coil and writhe. The air grew dense, thick with an ominous energy that prickled the skin and made every breath feel labored. The fog swirled and condensed, as though alive, and the temperature plummeted, the cold biting and unnatural, as if the room itself recoiled from what was about to emerge.And then, slowly, almost theatrically, he stepped forward. Keito Shigeru—if that was even his real name—emerged from the shadows like a ghost summoned from some forbidden abyss. His steps were unhurried, almost lazy, as if the mortal peril that gripped the room was nothing more than a trivial amusement to him. The faint gleam of his headband caught the dim light, a sinister symbol that seemed to mock the gravity of the moment as he tilted his head toward them.A crooked smirk flickered across his lips.

"Well, this looks better than last time," he drawled, his voice low, smooth, and laced with a quiet mockery that sent shivers through the air. "At least everyone's still breathing this time."

His tone was disturbingly casual, as if discussing the weather or a mundane errand rather than the fragile lives of those gathered before him. His hands remained buried in his pockets, and his leisurely steps carried a brazen arrogance that only deepened the suffocating tension. Every movement he made was calculated, amplifying the dread that gripped the room. His presence alone felt like a reminder of how thin the line was between survival and inevitable demise.Naoko froze, her blood-streaked hands hovering over her husband's wounds. Ayana instinctively tightened her grip on the bandages, her eyes darting between her family and the incomprehensible figure standing before them. Even Takatsu, weak and barely able to sit up moments ago, struggled to rise, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and terror.Keito stopped just a few paces away, tilting his head slightly as if observing them through unseen eyes. His smirk widened, and he exhaled softly—a sound that landed somewhere between a chuckle and a disappointed sigh.

"No need to look so scared," he said, his voice deceptively soft but barbed with biting sarcasm. "If I wanted you all dead, I wouldn't bother wasting time on conversation."

For a moment, the room was suspended in a thick, oppressive silence, broken only by the faint, eerie hum of the dissipating dark mist. Then, with a faint tap to his earpiece, Keito's expression shifted ever so slightly.

"Bring them in. They'll need assistance," he said in a calm, almost detached tone, as if delivering lines from a pre-rehearsed script.

Outside, the distant thrum of rotor blades grew louder, filling the room with a deep, vibrating roar that made the walls and windows tremble. Yet instead of further dread, the noise heralded the arrival of heavily armed shadows descending from the sky. Soldiers clad in unassuming black uniforms quickly swept into the room, their movements sharp and precise, like a well-oiled machine. Following close behind, a team of medics rushed in, their faces calm and determined as they got to work without hesitation.Naoko exhaled a shaky breath, her tense hands trembling as she finally relinquished her husband to the medics. Ayana stepped back, relief mingling with exhaustion as she watched professionals take over. The suffocating weight of fear began to lift, replaced by astonishment and gratitude as the room filled with coordinated efficiency.Keito remained off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, the faint ghost of an amused smile still lingering on his face. His relaxed posture was a stark contrast to the lingering tension in the room, as if he were merely a spectator watching an entertaining play unfold.Ayana's eyes, now brimming with tears, unexpectedly turned toward him. Her lips trembled as though searching for words, but instead, she stepped forward and, forgetting herself, threw her arms around him in an impulsive embrace.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice quivering like a fragile leaf caught in the wind.

Despite her complicated relationship with her father, he was still the man she loved and fought to protect. In her heart, she couldn't deny the relief that flooded through her.Naoko, standing nearby, couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She bowed her head deeply, her voice soft but filled with genuine warmth.

"Thank you so much."

Ayana, realizing the boldness of her actions, quickly released him and stepped back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Keito didn't flinch. He merely inclined his head slightly, accepting their gratitude with the cool detachment of someone who saw such gestures as inevitable. A faint, subtle scent of apples hung in the air around him, adding an odd layer of allure to the unsettling presence he exuded—a strange blend of admiration and unease.Hiroto, his head now tightly bandaged, summoned what little strength he had left to stand. Bowing his head low, he said with heartfelt sincerity,

"Thank you... for everything."

Meanwhile, Takatsu, now bandaged and steadied by injections, forced himself upright despite the medics' protests. Limping, he approached Keito, his expression a mix of pride and pain.

"I... I'm sorry... for everything," he stammered, extending a trembling hand.

Keito regarded the hand in silence for a long, tense moment before finally reaching out to clasp it. His grip was firm, his gaze steady.

"You've done enough," he said evenly, a faint trace of approval slipping into his voice.

Takatsu wavered, his strength faltering, but Keito caught him, steadying him with an ease that felt oddly comforting.

"Rest now," he said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken authority, as if the chaos had always been under his control.

Though Keito remained a stranger to the Fujiwara family, in that moment, he stood as their sole anchor in a storm that had nearly consumed them. His presence, an enigmatic blend of menace and reassurance, left an indelible mark on the fragile balance between despair and survival.